tailieunhanh - An Introduction to Intelligent and Autonomous Control-Chapter 5: Modeling and Design of Distributed Intelligence Systems

Tham khảo tài liệu 'an introduction to intelligent and autonomous control-chapter 5: modeling and design of distributed intelligence systems', công nghệ thông tin, quản trị web phục vụ nhu cầu học tập, nghiên cứu và làm việc hiệu quả | 5 Modeling and Design of Distributed Intelligence Systems Alexander H. Levis Department of Systems Engineering George Mason University Fairfax VA 22030 Abstract Elements of a mathematical theory of distributed intelligence systems are presented and used to model and design systems that have to meet stringent structural requirements. The formalism of Petri Nets and Colored Petri Nets is used to depict intelligent nodes and the various types of interconnections between them. Both fixed structure and variable structure architectures are considered. Measures of performance are introduced and various qualitative properties are described. 1. INTRODUCTION Human organizations are by definition distributed intelligence systems. The characterization applies regardless of which definition is used for the terms distributed and intelligence. A common dictionary defines intelligence as the capacity for reasoning understanding or for similar forms of mental activity - clearly human characteristics. Distributed means that some resource - intelligence in this case - is dispersed through a space or an area. A more interesting set of definitions is given by Minsky 1 . He defines distributed processes as those in which each function is spread out over a range of locations so that each part s activity contributes a little to each of several different functions. Substitute organization member for part and the relevance of the definition is clear. His definition of intelligence however whimsical is apt when applied to human organizations - it is all the mental skills that at any particular moment we admire but don t yet understand. In this chapter the beginnings of a mathematical theory of distributed intelligence systems is presented with emphasis on the concepts on some of the insights obtained and on many of the challenges that remain. The point of view taken is that of organization theory. Drenick 2 states in his book on a mathematical organization theory that the objective of such a